From railway carriage conversions to Disney-themed home theatres to a self-built castle, 2024 had plenty of homes for sale that stood out from the crowd.
Here is a recap of some of the most weird, wonderful and unusual properties to appear on realestate.com.au this year.
Train carriage home
A 50-year-old railway carriage in Ewingsdale, just outside of Byron Bay, had been renovated to preserve its heritage and provide “the ultimate in Byron-style guest accommodation.
Owner Dean Carroll told realestate.com.au that the infamous “Red Rattler” carriage had been restored and furnished to echo the romance of the golden age of rail travel.
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The property in the Byron Bay hinterland included an old train carriage renovated into guest accomodation. Picture: realestate.com.au/buy
“The back part we’ve left as is,” Mr Carroll said. “It’s got one of the old original seats in it, and some of the old signage.”
Divided into five separate compartments that serve as rooms, it had a bedroom at one end, a living space in the middle, and storage areas at the other end.
No expense spared at Queensland mansion
With its Disney-inspired candy popcorn bar and home theatre this Gold Coast mega mansion truly is one of a kind.
The enormous property is looking for a buyer with a $10 million budget. Picture: realestate.com.au/buy
On the market for offers above $10 million, this extravagant property at 51 Hillview Parade, Ashmore is the epitome of luxury living with a design and features inspired by American architecture.
Among its many features are a home cinema, candy bar and games room. Picture: realestate.com.au/buy
Set on a sprawling 5005sqm landholding with a whopping 1543sqm of living space, the tri-level home features six bedrooms, eight bathrooms, a separate mud room with 10 individual lockers, a sports bar, a pool house, cocktail bar and arcade area.
A special piece of Australian history
A mixed farming jewel, which was the neighbour of famed Australian bush poet, Banjo Patterson’s childhood home, Illalong, hit the market this year for the third time in its lifetime.
The sprawling estate known as ‘Mylora’ at 715 Illalong Road, Binalong served as the inspiration to Patterson’s first poem, The Mylora Elopement.
Celebrated poet Banjo Patterson used this property as inspiration for his first poem. Picture: realestate.com.au/buy
The six bedroom, three bathroom property is a mixed farming property of 1861ha, located 90 minutes from Canberra, and three hours from Sydney.
Sales agent Stuart Davies of McGrath Camden said the owners restored the circa 1850’s Bluestone Homestead, and Mylora had three key elements making it standout – its history, quality, and scale.
Four-decade labour of love to create self-built castle
Considered one of Perth’s most recognisable and talked-about properties, 93 North Road, Bassendean is an iconic ‘folly’ inspired by the designs of yesteryear.
Featuring two equally unique buildings set over a sprawling 6,181sqm landholding, the castle like residence was the work of its late owner, Lloyd Leist.
The unique property was built by a taxi driver over four decades. Picture: realestate.com.au/buy
Son Clayton Leist told realestate.com.au that the home grew from an initial building that looked like the shape of a church with a 48 degree pitch roof.
The properties evolved over time, Clayton said, as his taxi driver father collected pieces to add to them, which included items imported from Europe, as well as architectural pieces from around Perth.
Pretty in pink Queenslander
With its eye-catching pink exterior, this four bedroom Queenslander- which sold for $1.325 million in April – was an epic renovation project showcasing a mix of eclectic tastes and vintage aesthetics.
The quirky Queenslander was renovated by DIYers and flipped to fund their next project. Picture: realestate.com.au/buy
The Burpengary East abode was renovated by Charlie Watt and her builder husband Leonard, and its wild interiors included striking wallpaper adorning almost every wall, a brand new kitchen and bathrooms and a stunning garden pavilion.
Ultimate artist’s haven
It is safe to say that this converted Balmain warehouse that was the home and workspace of artist Sandra Leveson is a true one off.
Selling for $5.9 million in November, the former chemical warehouse had been transformed into a cavernous, light-filled warehouse home tucked away in a quiet cul-de-sac by Leveson.
The cavernous Balmain warehouse was one of the first of a wave of warehouse conversions that swept Sydney in the 1980s. Picture: realestate.com.au/buy
The ultimate artist’s pad features steel-framed windows in its dramatic sawtooth roof, four bedrooms and four bathrooms, as well as multiple living areas across the ground floor and mezzanine.
A central open-plan area was split into a gallery and combined living area and workspace, while an open-air portion of the warehouse includes an elevated swimming pool.
The nation’s priciest tennis court
This 3576sqm property at 2 Caraar Creek Lane, Mornington is without a house but includes what might possibly be the best-positioned grass court in Australia.
It’s one of the most picturesque — and priciest — tennis courts in Australia. Picture: realestate.com.au/buy
With panoramic views across Port Phillip Bay, the prestigious landholding in one the Mornington Peninsula’s most exclusive neighbourhoods, has a $7.5 million price tag.
The land forms part of the estate of the late Lou Mangan, former managing director of Carlton & United Breweries.
The property forms part of one of the original estates in the area, and is offered for sale alongside neighbouring properties that could be combined to form a large family compound. Picture: realestate.com.au/buy
Buyers also have the opportunity to acquire the two adjoining blocks to create a sprawling compound if they wish.
A home made for four-legged friends
Built into this eclectic, character-filled 19th century house in Maldon in regional Victoria is a pint-sized doorway in the weatherboards for a pet dog to get into the backyard.
The doggy-door even features a detailed stone arch – one of many unique details found throughout the property. Picture: realestate.com.au/buy
Described as a “timeless treasure” the home combines nostalgic appeal with all the comforts of a modern home.
Other unique features of the property included a rainbow of plush toys hanging from the ceiling in one of the bedrooms, an unusual fox sculpture, and countless unique paintings in every room.
A suburb-sized property that won’t be carved up
This 1840-built homestead is steeped in Australian history as it was once the home of Sydney’s first mayor, John Hosking.
The large estate in Sydney’s western suburbs features a homestead that’s nearly 200 years old. Picture: realestate.com.au/buy
Known as Macquarie Field House at Glenfield, the state heritage-listed property was previously used as a farm, school and homestead, but had remained vacant since it was last sold in 2015.
Sales agent Frank Oliveri of Colliers told realestate.com.au that a property of 60 acres near the M5 motorway in the region from Liverpool to Campbelltown was very rare.
Despite its size and position in one of Sydney’s development corridors, the heritage-listed property probably won’t be developed any time soon. Picture: realestate.com.au/buy
The property’s heritage listing meant any proposed development was subject to strict controls designed to maintain the heritage significance of not only the existing five-bedroom sandstone house, but also its “intact 19th century rural cultural landscape”, according to its heritage listing.
